How to: Install PHP on Windows 2003 server with IMAP support

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This article provides a step-by-step process of setting up PHP (using PHP-ISAPI) on a Windows 2003 server running IIS 6.0.

Step 1: Downloading PHP zip package It's recommended that you download PHP 5.x zip package from http://www.php.net/downloads.php

Step 2: Copying required files Unzip the PHP ZIP file to C:PHP and copy php.ini-recommended from that folder to C:windowsphp.ini, then copy php5ts.dll to C:WindowsSystem32

Step 3: Launch IIS Launch IIS from the Administrative tools in the Control Panel by clicking Start -> Administrative Tools -> IIS Manager (or loading the Control Panel, entering the Administrative Tools folder, and double clicking IIS Manager).

Step 4: Add PHP as a web service extension Click the name of your computer then click "Web Service Extensions", on the left side of the main frame you will see a green arrow pointing to a link that says "Add a new Web service extension...", click that link.

Set the extension name to anything you would like, put C:PHPphp5isapi.dll as the Required file, also check "Set status to allowed"

Step 5: Configuring PHP in IIS Manager: Go to the directory you would like to configure PHP for in the IIS Manager, right click it, and select properties

Click the Create button, set the Execute permissions to "Scripts only", then click the Configuration button.

Click Add button. For the Executable put - C:PHPphp5isapi.dll for the Extension put ".php", set the verbs to all, and make sure the bottom check boxes are checked.

Press Ok and Ok.

Step 6: Enabling IMAP Extension for PHP Open your php.ini file. Search for 'extension_dir' and add the path of your ext directory in there. For example : extension_dir= 'C:/php/ext/'. If this line has been commented out, please un-comment the line (by removing the semi-colon ';' from the beginning of the line. Check if you have php_imap.dll on your C:PHPext directory. If yes, un-comment the following line in your php.ini. "extension=php_imap.dll". Though a restart is not neccessary, some systems require a restart for the settings to take effect.